Amid new sex abuse scandal, O’Malley issues warning to church

Source: Boston Globe

By Martin Finucane and Danny McDonald

Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley said Tuesday he was “deeply troubled” by the allegations of sexual abuse by one of the most respected US cardinals, Theodore McCarrick — and laid out steps the Roman Catholic Church needs to take to address its continuing clergy sex abuse problems.

McCarrick’s “alleged actions, when committed by any person, are morally unacceptable and incompatible with the role of a priest, bishop or cardinal,” O’Malley said in a statement, warning that the church could lose its “already weakened moral authority” if it doesn’t make changes.

McCarrick was once one of the architects of the church’s policy on sexual abuse. The allegations against him have rocked Catholics.